At 12.39 hours on 18 April 1943 the unescorted Empire Bruce (Master J. Edwards) was hit in the stern by one torpedo from U-123 about 100 miles southwest of Freetown. She capsized and sank after being hit by two coups de grâce at 13.51 and 14.19 hours. The master, 41 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by the British minesweeper HMS MMS-107 (Skipper H.J. Craven) and landed at Freetown on 19 April.